rbm
Member
I didn't want reopen the old thread so I'm starting a new one.
I built the X-Wing antenna that was in MT in 2010 and I've been using it for a few years.
(My compliments to the developers. It has been a great antenna.)
I've never had it permanently installed.
I just drag it out for a few days or so when I get the urge to do some UHF satellite listening.
(I worked on the very first SatCom RF payload back in the late 60's so I have a vested interest.
In addition to all the scanners I now have a number of DVB-T USB dongles and they make 'looking' around on the satellites more interesting.
Now, I'm thinking of placing the X-Wing in a permanent location and I have a question about the ground plane/screen.
The hardware cloth I've been using is 1/2" squares and the stock size I could get back then was 36" x 10'.
So, my ground plane is 36" x 48".
I've been thinking about adding another 12" to the one side to make it 48" x 48",
So ....
My question is, has anyone had a chance to compare the effect of a smaller ground plane on the antenna performance.
Is it worth all the trouble to do that?
By the way, I'm using an RF Bay, Inc. LNA-580 low noise preamp (0.7dB NF, 23dB gain) within the antenna base and I 'think' I'm hearing everything that can be heard there.
Rich
I built the X-Wing antenna that was in MT in 2010 and I've been using it for a few years.
(My compliments to the developers. It has been a great antenna.)
I've never had it permanently installed.
I just drag it out for a few days or so when I get the urge to do some UHF satellite listening.
(I worked on the very first SatCom RF payload back in the late 60's so I have a vested interest.
In addition to all the scanners I now have a number of DVB-T USB dongles and they make 'looking' around on the satellites more interesting.
Now, I'm thinking of placing the X-Wing in a permanent location and I have a question about the ground plane/screen.
The hardware cloth I've been using is 1/2" squares and the stock size I could get back then was 36" x 10'.
So, my ground plane is 36" x 48".
I've been thinking about adding another 12" to the one side to make it 48" x 48",
So ....
My question is, has anyone had a chance to compare the effect of a smaller ground plane on the antenna performance.
Is it worth all the trouble to do that?
By the way, I'm using an RF Bay, Inc. LNA-580 low noise preamp (0.7dB NF, 23dB gain) within the antenna base and I 'think' I'm hearing everything that can be heard there.
Rich